Display carton



E. J. BORUCKI DISPLAY CARTON Oct. 6, 1953 Filed June 26, 1952 fnvenfor" [1136716 Jfiaruc/zl Patented Oct. 6, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT CFFICE DISPLAY CARTON Eugene J. Borucki, Chicago, Ill assignor to Container Corporation of America, Chicago, 111., a

corporation of Delaware Application June 26, 1952, Serial No. 295,642

1 Claim. 1

The invention pertains to cartons for packaging and displaying commodities such, for instance, as sponges both artificial and natural, scouring and cleaning pads and other household aids, whereby the commodity may quickly and easily be packaged and yet will be exposed to the view of a prospective customer. More particularly the invention is concerned with car tons of the type mentioned, so constructed that they may be composed of and from sheet mate rial such as paperboard permitting the carton to be cut and scored in blank form and folded and secured in final commodity receiving condition or folded and secured in a flat and semi -final condition from which they may be set-up to final condition as and when desired.-

One of the principal objects of the invention, therefore, is to provide a simple and inexpensive carton having those characteristics which have been stated above.

Another important object is to provide a carton of such construction that not only may the commodity item to be packaged be easily and quickly disposed in the package but, while clear- 1y exposed to the view and inspection of a consumer, will be held firmly and securely in its position against accidental displacement.

In addition to the foregoing, the more important objects include the provisionof a carton which will afiord effective display of the packaged commodity, which will permit various ad vertising and instruction data to be placed on the carton surface areas adjacent to the packaged item as well as elsewhere on the package, and which may readily be grasped and handled by all parties concerned. Many other objects as well as the advantages and uses of the invention will be understood and appreciated after reading the following description and claim and after viewing the accompanying drawings of a presently preferred embodiment.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a carton as "setup in its final form ready for the reception of a sponge or cleansing pad the position of which when in place in the carton is indicated by the dotted line;

Fig. 2 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in section, viewing the carton along line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and I Fig. 3 is a plan view of a blank as the same may be cut from sheet material such as paperboard and scored ready for folding into its final form or to an intermediate stage.

The carton illustrated is of a rectangular tube (01. zoo-45.14)

2 form having front and back walls of corresponding shapes and dimensions, opposite side walls of corresponding shapes and dimensions, and an end wall at each of the opposite ends of the tube, the end walls being constructed from several flaps of closure members connected with some or all of the front, back and side walls. These sev era'l wall and flap parts and the parts serving thepurposes of the invention are formed from a single unitary piece or blank of materialsuch as that shown in Fig. 3, to which figure reference will now be made.

The blank as cut (and simultaneously scored) from a sheet or roll of paperboard or other suitable material is of generally rectangular shape and comprises a pair of side wall forming panels 4 and 5' of equal dimensions and shape, front and back or rear panels 6 and 1, respectively, of equal dimensions and shape, a glue flap 8, end closure flaps 9 and H, H for one end of the tube, and end closure flaps l2, l3 and M, I4 for the opposite end of the tube. Parallel score or fold lines l5, I5 and IE, it delineate the side edges of the front and rear panels 6 and 1, respectively, from the side wall panels 4 and 5' and glue flap 8, while parallel score or fold lines H, H, at right angles to the score lines l5, l5 and l6, l6, delineate the several closure flaps from the wall panels. A score line [8 and end slits 13' delineate a tuck flap H) on the outer end of closure flap 9 from that part of the latter which forms the end wall proper.

In the embodiment illustrated the commodity item to be packaged inand displayed in combination with the carton as a unit, is to be located centrally of the front wall panel 8 although it could be located in what has been termed the rear wall panel 1 or closer to one end than the other of either of such panels. To the end stated the front wall panel 6 and the adjacent s'ide wall panels 4 and 5 are slit as indicated by the full lines 2| and 2|, "2'2 and 22, and 23' and 23', scored as indicated by the dot-dash lines 24, 24', 25, 25', and 28, 26,- and cut away to provide a circular opening indicated by the edge 21, thereby providing a pair of what may be termed yoke-shaped, strap -like members generally designated 28 and 29. As will be apparent each of the members 28 and 29 is the mirror image of the other and is connected with the other only through common connection with the front wall panel 6 and side wall panels 4 and 5 by virtue of the score lines 24, 24, 25, 25 and 26, 26. A pair of score lines 3! extending across member 28 and a similar pair 3i across memberv 29, preferably along radii, of the central circular opening, displaced 45 from the line of slits 22, 22 and at the same angle from the longitudinal center line of wall panel 6, provide fold lines the purpose of which will later appear.

While the carton might be manufactured and sold in its blank form of Fig. 3, ordinarily it is made into a fiat tube or put into its final shape by the manufacturerpreferably the flat tube shape-for sale to customers who effect the final set-up and package the commodity therein. In making the tube, any suitable adhesive is applied to one side or the other of glue flap 8 and such glued side is adhered'to the corresponding marginal edge surface of side panel 3 in overor under-lapping relation. Preferably the folding is done along fold lines I5 and I6 to effect the flat folded condition and in such condition the cartons may be bundled in multiple number for storage, shipment and other handling until ready for use.

At the time the carton is to be set-up for receiving the commodity to be packaged, the first step is to expand it from the flat or collapsed condition to the open ended tube form and the next step is to close the ends. That end at which the flaps [2, I3, I 3 and I4 are disposed may be designated the bottom end and the carton with its contents may be stood thereon while the opposite end may be considered to be the top or upper end. In order to facilitate setting-up the carton the flaps of the bottom end are formed as shown and are commonly known as a push lock since, after folding the flap I3 inward over the end and the flaps I4, I l inward over and upon the flap I3, the flap I2 is folded down over the three prior folded flaps and pushed inwardly of the carton tube end until its outer edge passes inward of the outer edge of flap I3 and lodges therebehind, the action also carrying portions of flaps I4, I4 inward and effecting an interlock between all of these flaps. The opposite or top end of the carton is closed by the infolding of flaps II, II and 9, the tuck flap being pushed inward in the well known manner.

After the carton has been set-up as stated it is ready for reception of the commodity item to be packaged. As will be observed from the illustration in Figs. 1 and 2, the strap-like members 28 and 29 are to be depressed within the tube to positions where they, together with adjacent parts of the carton walls, eifect a nest into which an object of more or less spheroidal shape, such as a sponge or pad, will fit and be supported. Since the fold or score lines 25, and 26, 26 form hinges and the axes of those hinges are inclined away from the ends of the slits 22, 22 at once toward the respectively adjacent ends of the carton and toward the score or fold lines I5, I 5', and since the fold or score lines 25, 24', about which the members 28 and 29 are hinged to the front wall panel 6, are closer to the carton ends than the ends of the members, the depression of the members to their final positions within the tube or hollow interior of the carton will be as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In these positions of members 28 and 29 the center part of each, that is, the part adjacent to the hinge 24 or 2 will depend from the front wall, substantially at right angles thereto, the parts which lie between each score line 3| or 3! and the score lines l5 and I 5' will be inclined to the center parts and to the front and rear walls, and the end parts which lie between each score line I5 or I5 and the hinge lines 25, 25', 26 and 26' will be inclined inward, downward and toward the respectively adjacent ends of the carton tube, as will be apparent. The cut out center or circular portion defined by the edge 21 serves to relieve each of members 28 and 29 along such edge and facilitates the inward and downward positioning of those members without material strain.

Thus formed and foldable it is a simple matter, when the carton is being set-up for use, to push the strap-like members 23 and 29 inward to their final nest forming positions as seen in Figs. 1 and 2. The operation may be performed by hand in advance of placement of the commodity item in the nest or, in some instances, the item itself may be employed to push the members inward to their final positions as the item is being packaged. While the nature of the packaged item might be such that it would remain firmly positioned in the nest supported by the members 28 and 29, it is preferable that more positive retaining means be provided. For that purpose each of slits 2|, 2| and 23, 23' is made arcuate along that edge of the carton front wall which lies along and defines the adjacent edge of those parts of each of members 28 and 29 between the score lines SI, 3| and I5, I5, thereby providing portions 32 which overhang or project toward one another over the nest formed by the depressed members 28 and 29. When parts of the packaged item lie behind the projections 32, the item is firmly and positively held in place.

A carton of the instant character offers unique advantages for display of household specialty items such as cleansing sponges and pads as well as advantages from the standpoints of ease and economy of manufacture and use. If desired the carton may be so made as to receive and display two or more items and one or more items may be packaged within the tube where they are not seen in addition to the displayed item. Also, other shapes of tube may be employed, as, for instance, a cylindrical tube. The ends may be closed, as in the illustrated embodiment or one or both ends may be left open. Other changes and adaptations may be employed. Accordingly the invention is not to be considered as limited other than by the invention spirit and what properly may fall within the purview of the appended claim.

I claim:

A packaging and display carton composed of sheet material such as paperboard cut, scored, folded and secured into the form of a tube and including spaced front and rear walls, side walls connecting and spacing the front and rear walls and flap means at each end of said tube adapted when folded and engaged to retain said tube in expanded condition, said front wall and adjacent portions of the side walls being cut and scored to provide a pair of strap-like members extending from a place between the front and rear edges of each side wall across tthe front wall and depressible relative to the plane of the front wall to positions between the front and rear walls, each end of each strap-like member having a hinged connection with a side wall along a score line inclined toward the front wall and the adjacent end of the side wall, each strap-like member consisting of live portions, two outer portions out from said side walls, two intermediate portions hingedly connected to said outer portions and cut from said front wall, and a central portion hinged at one edge to said front wall along a score line extending transversely of said front wall and at its two ends to said intermediate portions along score lines extending inwardly at 45 degrees to the axis of said tube, and portions of said top wall adjacent said intermediate and central portions being arcuately convex in form, whereby said straplike members when depressed will underlie said top wall portions and said outer and intermediate portions thereof will slope inwardly and downwardly.

EUGENE J. BORUCKI.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 5 2,296,389 2,31 1,137 2,382,844 2,417,421 2,491,039 10 2,558,713

Name Date Levkoff Sept. 22, 1942 Sunderhauf et a1. Feb. 16, 1943 Arneson Aug. 14, 1945 Koolnis Mar. 18, 1947 Fortunato Dec. 13, 1949 Williamson June 26, 1951 

